Press Release by Mangosteen Research and Development Center (Thailand) at Office of the Higher Education Commission, Bangkok. 8 October 2009

The researchers of Operation BIM, of the Mangosteen Research and Development Centre (Thailand), consisting of multi-disciplinary research scientists from Chiang Mai University and Prince of Songkla University as well as from Asian Phytoceuticals Public Co. Ltd. have created the special formula BIM that is comprised of the extracts of five Thai fruits and grains. The ingredients of the special formula BIM synergize with each other to reduce the effects of the cytokine storm that is the main cause of death by respiratory viruses or airborne viruses such as influenza, bird flu, SARS and H1N1 flu as well as the future possible mutated strains.

When a respiratory virus infects a person, his body's white blood cells, in the process of fighting off the infection, will produce a cytokine called interleukin-1beta (IL-1) that communicates with other white blood cells to activate more immune cells. As a result, many types of cytokines, especially numerous are interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-), and other immunity substances are produced to fight the virus. This is acytokine storm, and this dysregulated reaction causes the destruction of respiratory tissue. If this reaction occurs in the lungs it could lead to the flooding of the lungs (pneumonia) and clogging of the respiratory channels, causing death.

Scientific tests have found, by using the deactivated H1N1 virus to stimulate human white blood cells to produce cytokines, that the most prevalent cytokines, and the trigger of cytokine storms are interleukin-1beta (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-). Results from the test labs have found that special formula BIM is able to significantly reduce the level of both these cytokines and thereby reducing the severity of the condition caused by contracting respiratory viruses. Furthermore, special formula BIM prompts immune cells (T-cells) to produce beneficial cytokine, namely interleukin 2 (IL-2), which sends signals to white blood cells to be ready to fight viruses. Interleukin-2 also promotes the multiplication and maturing of immune cells, facilitates the communication of white blood cells and boosts the production of the specific antibody needed to tackle each virus before they could be destroyed by the white blood cells.

This breakthrough has given us a new approach in dealing with respiratory viruses. The researchers believe that special formula BIM, by using the same principle of weakening the cytokine storm through the reduction of harmful cytokines, can help prevent the fatality from all types of respiratory viruses, including the possible mutated strains in the future.

A Thai and an International patent have been filed by ASIAN PHYTOCEUTICALS PCL. for “BIM Formula”